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Rizla+
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 17-04-2010 22:52
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Rizla+ entered the world of professional cycling today, employing one-time poor amateur road-racer Hairingtons as their Directeur Sportif.
Sponsors
Rizla+, Colnago, Adidas
Team Kit by Maximka
Edited by hairingtons on 17-04-2010 23:09
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 18-04-2010 11:49
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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I'll reserve this post for introductions, I'll have to decide whether to install the 2010 DB first and start again or not.
Edited by hairingtons on 18-04-2010 12:22
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 18-04-2010 12:14
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
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Hairingtons:
I've cleaned up the thread, removing the useless posts. I've left your latest one - feel free to let it be, edit it or remove it.
Good luck with your story. |
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| neve57 |
Posted on 18-04-2010 12:32
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Domestique
Posts: 672
Joined: 13-09-2009
PCM$: 300.00
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good luck  |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 18-04-2010 14:58
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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nice to see swuft riding
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-12-2024 08:06
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| IP: None |
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| Maximka |
Posted on 20-04-2010 13:30
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Sprinter
Posts: 1902
Joined: 22-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Happy to see my jerseys in the stories! Good luck!
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 20-04-2010 16:02
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Ive downloaded the 2010 DB, and started a fresh with a new team. So I'll get the beginning of my story up in the next few days. |
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| Bosskardo |
Posted on 20-04-2010 16:13
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Sprinter
Posts: 1559
Joined: 07-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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So, will we have updates soon, can't wait.
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| Wilier |
Posted on 20-04-2010 16:21
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5405
Joined: 28-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Good luck with your story. |
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 23-04-2010 12:38
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Finally, after several aborted attempts to agree terms with a sponsor, Directeur Sportif Hairingtons has come to an agreement with Rizla+ as the main sponsor for the team.
The team will be supplied with Colnago bikes and have clothing designed by Maximka and made by Adidas.
TEAM LINE UP
Robert Gesink The 23 yr old Dutchman will be the team leader with a view to competing in stage races.
Edvald Boasson Hagen The 22yr old Norwegian joins Rizla+ with a reputation for Time Trials and Sprints. There is little that Edvald can not do though, and he could end up being a stage race rider himself.
Stephen Cummings A British team needs some British riders and Cummings is a luxury team mate, capable of dragging the peleton along with his Time Trial and Flat Road capabilities.
Geraint Thomas The next Brit is Geraint Thomas. The 23yr old has a swift pair of heels thanks to his track upbringing. The team think he could turn into a succesful one day rider, focussing on the Classics.
Matthias Brandle A young Austrian who, like Cummings, is strong in the time trial and flat roads. He will be a valubale domestique, but also has potential on Cobbles.
Darwin Atapuma The 22yr old Columbian comes from a country obsessed with roads that go up. He will be the main support to Gesink in the mountains of Stage Races.
Cameron Meyer Aussies and Brits go together like fish & chips, and the team are very excited to have young Aus track start Meyer on their books. He is already one of the best Time Trial riders out there, but lets see what he develops into.
Rafael Serrano Strong all round, Serrano will be able to offer support in all types of races.
Guy East The young American is another TT rider turned road racer. His potential on the Cobbles indicate he may turn into a strong one-day rider.
Connor McConvey Another young domestique who has potential when the weather gets damp and the roads go bumpy.
Ian Boswell Sounds English, but he's the second Yank on the team, and another rider with a future in one-day races.
Franz Schiewer Lots of potential in this German. He should be support in stage races for Gesink in his first couple of seasons.
Arthur Vicot The pretty boy of the team, hes never far from a mirror. But he's got bags of potential aswell as bags of hair gel. Could he be the next great French hope for stage races?
Cedric Forbin Vicots roommate, Forbin is just as good a prospect. But more so in the Northern Classics. A real fighter, with potential in Flat Road, Cobbles, Resistance and Sprint.
Joseph Perret The baby boy of the team, Perrett has masses of potential as a Time Trialist and Classics rider. Don't be fooled by his baby face.
Raffaele Collaviti Known in the team as '5 Star' because the team team Doctor said he has 5 star potential in almost everything, Raffaele is certainly a future Stage Race rider.
Delfin Luina This Spaniard is also down as Stage Race rider for the future because he has loads of potential in the Mountains and also in Time Trial. Has to put up with being called Dolphin by all the Brits.
Carl Mackey A bit of an oddball in the team, if the weather gets cold and wet, Mackey gets bike out. He loves icy freezing weather and seems to get stronger the colder it gets. Has been heard shouting "Roubaix" in his sleep.
Sammy Duffy Finally, young Duffy is another British talent, a breakaway speciailst and brother of pop starlet Duffy. The bike she rode in the Diet Coke advert was Sammy's. He's still waiting to get it back.
Edited by hairingtons on 23-04-2010 12:57
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| hellboy |
Posted on 23-04-2010 12:45
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 850
Joined: 27-10-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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nice team and nice presentation
Go Roman!
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| bfreire |
Posted on 23-04-2010 12:48
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Domestique
Posts: 538
Joined: 07-11-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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hehe nice and funny presentation with the young riders
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 26-04-2010 16:28
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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The early season was supposed to be an easy time for Rizla+. Maybe a few lesiurely training rides around the South of France. The odd glass of wine, watch the ladies walk by and polish our bikes.
Wrong.
Gesink and co. maybe used to not getting on the big ring until March or even April. They've generally got the warm Tours in mind. But Rizla+ are a new team and the sponsors need convincing. Along with the fact that the new British team's schedule didn't look so dazzling, the team were given some surprising news over breakfast in the pre-season training camp.
"We need points and we need them quickly".
Steve Cummings stopped, mid-bite of a bacon and egg sandwich. He looked at his team mates slowly, he knew what was coming.
"At the moment our season goals are somewhat, underwhelming..."
Shot at 2010-04-26
"...The Tour of Britain is a given, it's our the home of our sponsors. But we want bigger races don't we?"
There was nods of nervous approval around the table.
"That's why we'll be entering the Tour De Lan Suis in Argentina and the Giro Della Calabria in Italy this month. We need ranking points."
"This month?" A barely decipherable question came from Connor McConvey, the Irishman who was hard to understand at the best of times.
"Er. Yeah. January. This month. Next week in fact for some of you."
With that, the team got their heads round some real early season racing.
Tour De Lan Suis
Gesink was sent to the Tour De Lan Suis, the race has some tough climbs and it was felt he would do well on at least two stages.
Stage ended on a shrt but tough climb. Breakaway attempts littered the day, it was a predominatly flat stage, with a swift descent leading into the final 15km.
Rizla+ were composed given the early nature of the beginning of their season. After letting some riders stretch their legs, the team moved to the front of the peletion and reeled in all escapees. Setting it up for Gesink on the final climb of the day.
Shot at 2010-04-26
And so it was at the foot of the climb that Gesink jumped off the front quickly building a 30 second lead. None could match his pace.
Shot at 2010-04-26
By the time he crossed the line, Gesink had built a lead of over 2minutes. One of the team objectives was complete, a stage victory. But such was the nature of the victory that overall victory in the Tour looked achievable.
Shot at 2010-04-26
Gesink did not disapoint, taking total control of the Tour De Lan Suis. Victories on Stage 2, 3, 5 and 7 left Gesink untouchable in Yellow. And were the sponsors happy? Of course, it's only a minor race, but we sent a nice little framed picture of Gesink in the team colours and the Yellow, sprinting up a mountain.
Shot at 2010-04-26
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| olabj |
Posted on 26-04-2010 16:38
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1105
Joined: 17-09-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice job man, really funny to read |
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 26-04-2010 16:52
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Whilst half the team were millions of miles away in Argentina, Boasson Hagen led the other half of Rizla+ in a small stage race in Italy.
Giro della Calabria
News had filtered through that Gesink was ripping the peleton to pieces in Argentina. The boys were happy. But they were also adamant that they should not be overshadowed. They wanted to impress too.
The Calabria has plenty of flat roads. Indeed the first stage was a sure fire bunch sprint. The tactics of the team were decided the night before. We wouldn't do much at all on Stage 1. We'd make it look like we were here for a holiday.
As expected the peleton rolled along nicely most of the day, breakaways went and came back again. Mostly though, the teams chatted amongst each other talking about holidays, Christmas, what would the season hold. All very pleasent. Hardly a comment passed about who this new team was, this Rizla+...they aren't doing much, we'll leave them be.
Boasson Hagen finished in the Top 10 on that first bunch sprint, but he was rolling in really, not breaking much of a sweat. That was the plan. Get the legs strecthed for the next day.
Stage 2 was very different. Two small climbs in the last 50km broke up the flat roads. It was the plan to keep it together until these climbs. No one would be expecting much from us, as we looked like Tourists on Stage 1.
So when Boasson moved to the front of the peleton, not many people raised an eyebrow. The team set a high tempo, it was still due to be a bunch sprint, and Boasson was well placed due to a Top 10 previously. And the Sprint bonuses en-route meant a good showing would see the team in Green.
The bunch stayed together with a ferocious tempo, and despite not being in peak condition Boasson managed a Top 5 place the Green sprinters jersey was now on the shoulders of Boasson Hagen. But that wasn't his goal.
Stage 3 finished on a slight climb. The team's plan was not ready to fully spring into action. In the last 10 km, Boasson used his electric pace to move away from the small bunch at the front.
Shot at 2010-04-26
No one saw him again until the finish line, and though he was still in Green. He was now only 26 seconds behind the overall leader.
The final stage had a long drag of a climb about 20km from the end. Halfway up the climb, Boasson checked on his rivals, they weren't feeling as good as he was. Either that or they hid it well.
So he went. The lead was never huge. But it was enough. His rivals looked at each, asking who would chase, and the pause was just long enough for Boasson to get to 20 seconds, then 30 seconds, then 40 seconds.
He descended like a mad man and pedalled himself into the ground on the final few flat kilometres of the stage. He was 26 seconds behind. But he finished over 30 seconds ahead. He'd taken the Green and the Yellow.
Shot at 2010-04-26
And now he had his eyes on the two young ladies in Red  |
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| hairingtons |
Posted on 26-04-2010 18:53
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Under 23
Posts: 63
Joined: 11-04-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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The hard work payed off as Rizla+ secured a Wild Card to Paris-Nice.
There'll be some big names there no doubt and we'll be happy to come away with a stage win. Let's see what the boys can do. Could another good performance could secure Wildcards to some of the real big Tours? |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 27-04-2010 13:54
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Great story. You have a very good writing style. And you are just very good a writing in general. Good Luck.
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| neve57 |
Posted on 27-04-2010 16:00
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Domestique
Posts: 672
Joined: 13-09-2009
PCM$: 300.00
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nice start!
roses are grey, violets are grey, everything is grey,
im a dog
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| cio93 |
Posted on 27-04-2010 17:28
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World Champion
Posts: 10845
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
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Tour de Lan Suis 
Anyway good start and good luck! |
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